Alexander wurts



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. WURTS. LIGHTNING ARBESTR.

(No Model.) y y 2 sheets-sheen?. A. WURTS. LIGHTNING ARRESTER. No. 434,170. Patented-Aug. 12, 1890;

@iw/Mmm lll/l/ll/llllllllllllll/l/l/llIl/lll//ll/ ca l' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALEXANDER VURTS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO TI'IE IVESTINGI-IOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER.

SPECIFICATION fOIming part of Letters Patent No. 434,170, dated August 12, 1890. Application filed May 15, 1890- Serial No. 351,961. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: also approaches the electrode D. The elec- Be it known that I, ALEXANDER IVURTS, a trode D may be of any suitable conducting citizen of the United States, residing in Pittsmaterial. In practice carbon is found to burg, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennserve the purpose very satisfactorily. The 5 Sylvania, have invented a certain new and rods d and d2 may be of carbon or copper. 55 useful Improvement in Lightning-Arresters, Excellent results are obtained with the latter. (Case No. 412,) of which the following is a The electrode D may be turned to present specification. fresh surfaces to the electrodes d and d? The invention relates tothe class of appawhen necessary. The short arms c7 of the lo ratus employed for affording a path to earth levers c2 and c extend beneath the end of a 6o for lightning discharges which may traverse flexible spring h, which is supported from the main conductors of a system of electrical the frame or base of the instrument. If the distribution, and also providing for the inspring be forced down suddenly, it will strike terruption of the 'Iiow of current to earth after against the ends of the arms and, turning the [5 the lightning has disappeared. levers upon their pivots, carry the arms d 65 The present invention consists in providand d2 away from the electrode D, thus ining a normally-bleken path to the earth for creasing the degree of separation. The arms one or both sides of the main -line circuit d 7,2 are shown as being curved, so that they and in increasing the distance between the will move freely through the co1 responding 2o electrodes or terminals at the interrupted apertures when the levers swing upon their 7o portion ot the circuit by reason of the lightpivots.

, ning discharge, and then causing the heat Asolenoid II is connected in the main-line developed by the generated current passing conductor-#as for instance, in the line L2 across this space to still further increase the and this is provided with a movable core 7c,

25 separtion of the electrodes until the arc is which when the current traverses the solen- 75 completelyinterrupted. oid K is held up in theposition shown in the` The invention will be described in connecdrawings. \Vhen the current through the tion with the accompanying drawings, in solenoid diminishes or ceases by reason of a whicl1 short circuit to the earth through the elec# 3o Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in sectrode D, then the core is suddenly dropped, 8o tion, of an apparatus for carrying the invenstriking upon the end of the spring h and tion into practice; and Fig. 2 is a side view causing the arms d d2 to be thrown away from thereof, also partly in section. These figures the electrode D, as described. If therefore show the circuits in diagram. a current is passing to the earth through 3 5 Referring to the figures, A represents a dyeither arm d or cl2 and the electrode D, the 8 5 namoelectric generator-such, for instance, arc will be drawn out bythe separation of the as a source of alternating electric currents electrodes, andthe heat developed within the designed to supply arc lamps, such as vindichamber Ewi'll be correspondingly increased cated at B, which are 'connected in a main and cause the expansion of the air within the 4o line conductor L L2. The conductor L chamber to sucha degree as to force each arm 9o is connected with the conduct-or c, leading tl (Z2 quickly out through the corresponding through a support c to a pivoted lever c2. opening,thus completelyinterruptingtheare. This lever carries an arm d', which projects The current will then be forced to flow through an aperture c into the closed chainthrougl'r the solenoid K again7 and the nor- 45 ber E. The end of the arm d approaches a mal condition of the apparatus will be re- 95 condnoting-electrode D, which is connected newed. If for any reason the current should with the earth at Gr by the conductor c3. In fail to again flow through the solenoid K, the like manner the line L2 is connected by the arms d d2 will still be allowed to return to conductor c4 with a support c5, and through their 4normal positions by reason of the spring 5o it with a lever c6, carrying the arm d2, which h being sufficiently rigid to support the core loo forth will 7c tree from the arms ot' the levers c2 and c. It will be understood that the resiliency of the springis such as to permit it to be forced .downward by reason of the momentum aequired by the core 7twhen it drops suddenly from its solenoid K; but it will immediately return to its normal position, thus permitting` the levers c2 and c6 to return.

In some instances it may not be necessary to employ the solenoid and core for giving the initial separation to the electrodes; but the heat developed by the original arc will be sulticient to cause the required separation.

It is evident that other details of construction may be employed in place of those described; but that which I have already set serve to clearly disclose the invention,its mode of operation, and apparatus for practicing the saine. This form of lightning arrester is especially useful for alternatingcurrent circuits where the heat developed at the arc between the lightning-electrod es may not be sufficient to force the rods (Z and (Z2 outward unless the degree of separation is increased by mechanical means. At the same time the invention is applicable to circuits employing continuous currents.

In another application filed by me, Serial No. 351,523, I have described and claimed the inclosing-case with its contained electrodes and supports.

I claim as my inventionl. A lightning-arrester consisting of an electrode, a second electrode normally in proximity thereto and designed to be connected with the circuit to be protected, an electro mechanical device for giving an initial separation ot the electrodes brought into operation by variations in the current flowing l l I i i l i l i through the circuit, a chamber within which the electrodes are inclosed, and an aperture through which one of said electrodes extends and within which it is movable.

2. The combination, with two normally-sepa arated lightning-discharge electrodes, of a chamber containing the same, one of the said electrodes being movable with reference to the other, and a device for giving an initial movement to the said movable electrode.

3. The combination7 with two normally-separated lightning-diseharge electrodes, of a chamber containing the same, one of the said electrodes being movable with reference to the other, and a mechanical device for giving an initial movement to the said movable elecu trede, consisting of a solenoid and its core, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the electrode D, consisting of a ball of carbon or other conducting material, the lever c2, the electrode (Z, carried thereby, the chamber E, containing the said electrodes, a spring 7L, extending into proximity to said lever, a core 7c, and its solen oid K, all operatingsubstantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for interrupting the flow of electric currents, two separated electrodes, one movable with reference to the other, a chamber within which they are contained and through the walls ot which one is movable under the inliuence of the expansion of the air within the chamber, and a mechanical device for giving an initial movement to the movable electrode.

In testimony whereot I have hereunto subscribed niy name this 13th day ot May, A. D. 1890.

ALEXANDER W'URTS. lVitnesses:

ARTHUR HARTWELL, JAMES W. SMITH. 

